Installing Recosoft PDF2ID and converting PDF-to-InDesign. PDF2ID installation is easy and after that you immediately get to convert PDF-to-InDesign format. The layout is preserved and all elements are editable in InDesign. PDF2ID is used widely by everyone.

Today, we want to go over the procedure of installing PDF2ID. The PDF-to-InDesign conversion technology from Recosoft..

PDF2ID is a plug-in for InDesign but its important to understand that PDF2ID comes packaged in an installer and you must use the installer no matter what. I’m demoing this on the Mac but the process for Windows is essentially the same.

So, here on the desktop I have the PDF2ID installer. But before we double click to run the installer, please make sure that InDesign is not running. Otherwise the installer will not proceed with the installation.

Now, I’m going to double-click the installer and it starts up. We get this welcome screen initially so, we’re just going to click “Continue”. Then the “Read Me” screen which contains important last minute and up-to-date information. Again, we just click “Continue” here. Next we get to the “License Agreement” screen. Please make sure to Read this as it clearly explains the licensing terms. For the purpose of this demo, I’m just going to Click OK and proceed ahead and click on the “Agree” button again.

Now we have to enter the user name. company name (if you don’t’ have a company name please just enter your user name again) and the serial code you received with your copy of PDF2ID. Then click okay

Now, for the Mac PDF2ID asks you to identify the location where Indesign is installed. This is very important otherwise PDF2ID will not install correctly. We click “Choose” and navigate to the folder that contains the Adobe InDesign folder that you want to install PDF2ID against. In this case we’re installing against InDesign CC and select the Adobe InDesign CC folder and choose “Open”. Once PDF2ID identifies that the proper version of InDesign is targeted it will show the location in the InDesign location screen. Now we click Continue and then click “install” and the installer will then install everything properly and once its done installing you’re set.

Just fire up InDesign and you’ll see the Recosoft menu and the “PDF2ID – Convert PDF/XPS file command”.

Just a couple of notes. Please don’t move the PDF2iD plug-in once its installed. PDF2ID is a complex product and has many parts. The installed InDesign plug-in is just one of parts. If you move the plug-in on your own, PDF2ID will not operate. Also, please don’t move any other components PDF2ID may have installed in particular the PDF2ID folder that is installed in the “Applications” folder on the Mac or the “PDF2ID” folder created in the “Program Files” folder for the PC.

A window appears for you to select a PDF or XPS file to convert. So let just select a file to convert.

PDF2ID first inspects the file you are trying to convert and if it finds any fonts that were used in the PDF file that it couldn’t match against what you have in your system it provides a little tip.

Lets just click OK at present to dismiss it.

The main PDF2ID – Options window appears now. You can set a lot of options here, which allows you to fine-tune the conversion and tailor your workflow. But in most cases the default settings simply work.

If you remember, PDF2ID initially popped up a tip with respect to fonts that it couldn’t match. To achieve the best conversion you want to substitute the fonts.

So, let just choose “Font Substitution” and the font substitution panel appears. I’ve already substituted my fonts, and PDF2ID remembers the substitutions so you don’t have to do this every single time.

Lets click OK to convert the file and observe the converted result against the original PDF file (notice that the conversion of a 15 page PDF file is extremely fast in PDF2ID v4.0).

Lets compare the original PDF file against the converted output. You notice that the layout has been preserved extremely well with paragraphs being formed and frames being linked. You further notice that images and vector graphics are native Indesign elements also. Lets scroll down a few more pages and observe the formatting some more.

Again, you notice that the layout is well preserved and all of the text is live and editable. Furthermore you can appreciate the detail with which PDF2ID re-created InDesign properties such as a clipping path being applied to this image here; the text frames next to each other being linked and the vector graphics as fully editable InDesign objects.

Checking the links panel in InDesign we see that native image color space and resolution is maintained also.